Prominent team may have surprise driver

Ben White

Published: Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at 12:12 a.m.

The 2014 landscape of Sprint Cup driver and team pairings is now close to becoming complete, but one prominent team remains open as the circuit goes to Kansas Speedway this weekend. There could be the surprise name no one expects.

Welcome's RCR Enterprises will undergo many changes for next season. Longtime RCR driver Jeff Burton is leaving the No. 31 Chevrolets at season's end and will be replaced by Ryan Newman, presently the driver for Stewart-Haas Racing. A matter of funding dictated the move. Burton could possibly remain with RCR in a different role or move to another team. Newman will retain Caterpillar's primary sponsorship for 24 races and Quicken Loans for the remaining 12.

In a release issued by RCR, Burton said, "I strongly believe in the No. 31 team as to what we can achieve this year, and for the team in seasons to follow. However, the financial realities for next year were obvious to both Richard (Childress) and me. So, we talked about it and both made the decision to make this move for the team's future. I would like to thank the dealers, customers and employees of Caterpillar for all we've achieved together. You can't ask for a better and more supportive sponsor than those people, and it's been an honor to wear their black and yellow colors on my uniform."

Austin Dillon will carry the No. 3 on the sides of his RCR Chevrolets as he moves up to NASCAR's premier Sprint Cup division from the Nationwide Series. The number was used by Dale Earnhardt from 1984 until his death in 2001.

Dillon will fill the seat currently held by Kevin Harvick, in the No. 29 Chevrolets. Harvick will move to the newly formed No. 4 Chevrolets of Stewart-Haas Racing.

JTG Daugherty Racing officials recently announced A.J. Allmendinger as their driver for the full 2014 Sprint Cup schedule. Allmendinger replaces Bobby Labonte, the 2000 Sprint Cup champion, in the No. 47 Toyota. It's unclear if he will drive in Sprint Cup in 2014.

"It feels great that we chose each other," Allmendinger said. "There are many reasons why I feel good about it. I have come to know (team owners) Tad and Jodi (Geschickter) and Brad (Daugherty) and their values with the way they treat people. It is not just at the track, but away from the track. To have the opportunity to come back full-time with everything that happened, I know how very lucky I am."

In June of 2012, Allmendinger accidentally took an Adderall pill thought to be an energy pill and failed NASCAR's required drug test. It came from a friend who assured him of what it was but it wasn't clearly labeled. The fallout cost Allmendinger his Cup ride with team owner motorsports icon Roger Penske.

Penske kept Allmendinger and allowed him to race in select Indy Car events (including the Indianapolis 500) and Nationwide events this year after being reinstated by NASCAR. He won two Nationwide series road-course events this year and entered Cup events with Phoenix Racing and for JTG Daugherty Racing.

Nationwide Series star Kyle Larson has been named driver of the No. 42 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet in 2014. Larson will replace Juan Pablo Montoya come February but could possibly drive for Chip Ganassi in select Sprint Cup races in 2013.

The Elk Grove, Calif., driver has a strong background in Sprint cars and seems to be able to adapt quickly to anything he races.

"The Nationwide (cars) are about 200 horsepower less than a Cup car," Larson said. "With my Sprint car background, they're 1,400-pound cars with 900-horsepower engines. I'm used to having way too much horsepower. I think it will translate well to the Cup cars."

There is still one prominent ride in play that is yet to have a driver named. The No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet will be vacated by Kurt Busch when he becomes the fourth driver at Stewart-Haas Racing.

Ryan Blaney, a standout in the Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series, has been asked about being offered the ride but remains non-committal. Also, Mark Martin will be leaving Stewart-Haas Racing when Tony Stewart returns from a broken leg and will be looking for a ride. Barney Visser, owner of the Denver, Colo., based team, plans to make a careful decision in hopes of getting a driver to remain with the team long term.

<p>The 2014 landscape of Sprint Cup driver and team pairings is now close to becoming complete, but one prominent team remains open as the circuit goes to Kansas Speedway this weekend. There could be the surprise name no one expects. </p><p>Welcome's RCR Enterprises will undergo many changes for next season. Longtime RCR driver Jeff Burton is leaving the No. 31 Chevrolets at season's end and will be replaced by Ryan Newman, presently the driver for Stewart-Haas Racing. A matter of funding dictated the move. Burton could possibly remain with RCR in a different role or move to another team. Newman will retain Caterpillar's primary sponsorship for 24 races and Quicken Loans for the remaining 12. </p><p>In a release issued by RCR, Burton said, "I strongly believe in the No. 31 team as to what we can achieve this year, and for the team in seasons to follow. However, the financial realities for next year were obvious to both Richard (Childress) and me. So, we talked about it and both made the decision to make this move for the team's future. I would like to thank the dealers, customers and employees of Caterpillar for all we've achieved together. You can't ask for a better and more supportive sponsor than those people, and it's been an honor to wear their black and yellow colors on my uniform." </p><p>Austin Dillon will carry the No. 3 on the sides of his RCR Chevrolets as he moves up to NASCAR's premier Sprint Cup division from the Nationwide Series. The number was used by Dale Earnhardt from 1984 until his death in 2001. </p><p>Dillon will fill the seat currently held by Kevin Harvick, in the No. 29 Chevrolets. Harvick will move to the newly formed No. 4 Chevrolets of Stewart-Haas Racing. </p><p>JTG Daugherty Racing officials recently announced A.J. Allmendinger as their driver for the full 2014 Sprint Cup schedule. Allmendinger replaces Bobby Labonte, the 2000 Sprint Cup champion, in the No. 47 Toyota. It's unclear if he will drive in Sprint Cup in 2014. </p><p>"It feels great that we chose each other," Allmendinger said. "There are many reasons why I feel good about it. I have come to know (team owners) Tad and Jodi (Geschickter) and Brad (Daugherty) and their values with the way they treat people. It is not just at the track, but away from the track. To have the opportunity to come back full-time with everything that happened, I know how very lucky I am."</p><p>In June of 2012, Allmendinger accidentally took an Adderall pill thought to be an energy pill and failed NASCAR's required drug test. It came from a friend who assured him of what it was but it wasn't clearly labeled. The fallout cost Allmendinger his Cup ride with team owner motorsports icon Roger Penske.</p><p>Penske kept Allmendinger and allowed him to race in select Indy Car events (including the Indianapolis 500) and Nationwide events this year after being reinstated by NASCAR. He won two Nationwide series road-course events this year and entered Cup events with Phoenix Racing and for JTG Daugherty Racing.</p><p>Nationwide Series star Kyle Larson has been named driver of the No. 42 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet in 2014. Larson will replace Juan Pablo Montoya come February but could possibly drive for Chip Ganassi in select Sprint Cup races in 2013.</p><p>The Elk Grove, Calif., driver has a strong background in Sprint cars and seems to be able to adapt quickly to anything he races. </p><p>"The Nationwide (cars) are about 200 horsepower less than a Cup car," Larson said. "With my Sprint car background, they're 1,400-pound cars with 900-horsepower engines. I'm used to having way too much horsepower. I think it will translate well to the Cup cars."</p><p>There is still one prominent ride in play that is yet to have a driver named. The No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet will be vacated by Kurt Busch when he becomes the fourth driver at Stewart-Haas Racing. </p><p>Ryan Blaney, a standout in the Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series, has been asked about being offered the ride but remains non-committal. Also, Mark Martin will be leaving Stewart-Haas Racing when Tony Stewart returns from a broken leg and will be looking for a ride. Barney Visser, owner of the Denver, Colo., based team, plans to make a careful decision in hopes of getting a driver to remain with the team long term. </p><p>Ben White is a motorsports columist for The Dispatch.</p>